Yes, Wishes Do Come True.

When you were growing up, what were your hopes and dreams? What places did you want to travel to? What people did you want to meet?

Make-a-Wish was founded in 1980 with just one wish, when a group of passionate volunteers helped the 7-year-old Chris Greicius, battling leukemia, fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 2015’s fiscal year, Make-A-Wish granted the wishes of nearly 14,800 kids; this is record-breaking number, more than ever in years past. With about 27,000 children diagnosed with a medical condition every year, every wish makes a serious impact in the lives of children suffering from life-threatening illness.

Today, Make-A-Wish is one of the world’s leading children’s charities. Ever since its humble beginnings, it has granted approximately more than 350,000 wishes around the world. Just one wish has the power to change a child’s life.

Make-A-Wish determines if the child is medically eligible for a wish, determined by criteria from the foundation and cooperating physicians. Typically, children between 3 to 18 years old are referred to the foundation. Wishes fall into several categories: I wish to be, I wish to go, I wish to meet, I wish to give, and I wish to have.

To better understand the impact of the foundation, let’s take a look at on of the recipients of a Wish.

When the rest of her friends were going shopping and playing sports, Hazel contracted the debilitating condition of neurological encephalitis. She quickly went from her active self to managing a very low quality of life. Hazel wished to meet her idol, the New Zealand fashion designer, Karen Walker. When she was 17, Make-A-Wish New Zealand granted Hazel this life-changing wish. She was flown to Auckland and given a special necklace made by Walker herself.

A year later, Hazel reflects on her battle with her illness and the impact of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Zsolt Agárdy is an active supporter of Make-A-Wish, and you can be too. Make-A-Wish has so many ways to get involved. See their ways to give page to see how you can contribute or get active in volunteer opportunities near you.